Aftermarket suspension issues
I am so angry right now. I've cooled off for a few hours so I can write this. I recently did some more upgrades to my '05 GMC Sierra RCSB. This time around I did a DJM 4/6 drop with DJM shocks, Hotchkis front and rear sway bars, SLP UDP, Detroit True Trac, 4.10 Yukon Gears, NNBS GMC 6 spoke 17's with Hankook 275/55's, rollpan, and hidden hitch.
No part of the project went as planned, Murphy's Law and all...
Anyway, once I got the suspnsion squared away and the gears done, and finally found a company actually making tires, I got it on the road.
I was very easy on the truck for the first 300 miles to make sure the gears were broken in and due to an alignment issue I did not want to beat it yet.
I've had the truck to the alignment shop 3 times trying various tactics to get the front end to get into spec. I tried slotting the eccentrics more and this did not work, when I did this(2 weeks ago) I rechecked all of my suspension parts/bolts front and rear. Finally DJM was completely baffled by my particular situation and ended up giving me a good deal on a set of upper control arms so I could get back to factory camber/caster specs.
Over the last 200 miles or so, I've started to test out my trucks new found attitude. I am beginning to like my truck now. The gears, shorter tires, and true trac have made the 4.8L at least feel like an American V8. I don't even mind the 2500-3000 cruising RPM's. Over the last few days I heard a clunk sometimes when leaving from a stop and/or when down shifting, sounded like a u-joint. I thought, OK, 60K miles, probably about that time.
Fast forward to today. I had a couple of hours free before I needed to get back to finishing a project for school. I should put the new upper control arms on. I installed the parts and put the truck back on the ground. I should check those u-joints. Jack up the back of the truck and guess what? U-joints are fine.
THE FLIP KIT PARTS FROM DJM ARE ALL F'ED UP!!!
Most welds on the saddles are broken and the parts are all bent to hell. I tried to pull them back with C-clamps and weld, but that did not work out well. The drivers side is the worst. No pictures at this time, I was too damned mad and had to get going.
Anyone else have this problem? Now I am afraid, since my whole front suspension is DJM too. I have not had a problem with them in the past on other projects.
The flip kit I used on my OBS was from Western Chassis. Is their NBS kit more stout than the DJM stuff? I don't make any serious HP yet and have not gone to the drag strip. Why would I break parts on street tires and with a lowly 4.8 with minor mods at that?
Sorry about the long winded rant...
